Former Romanian coach Bela Karolyi, who notably led Nadia Comaneci to Olympic gold, has died at the age of 82, the American gymnastics federation announced on Saturday.
Karolyi, a Romanian from the country’s Hungarian minority, was the coach of Comaneci, a gym legend, for his Olympic coronations in 1976 in Montreal, with a perfect score of 10, and in 1980 in Moscow. He then defected to join the United States in 1981, leading American Mary Lou Retton to Olympic gold in 1984 in Los Angeles. “A big influence on my life. Rest in peace Bela Karolyi”wrote Comaneci on his Instagram account.
Known for his strict discipline, Karolyi was a controversial figure as a coach in the United States with his wife Marta at their Texas ranch, a national training center between 2001 and 2018, left by Team USA after the assault scandal sexual relations of federation doctor Larry Nassar. Dominique Moceanu, Olympic champion in 1996 in Atlanta under the direction of Karolyi, described on Saturday on her X account a man with two sides.
“Bela Karolyi was a man whose influence on my life and on high-level gymnastics was important, it is undeniable. He was a complex individual, a mixture of strengths and weaknesses that left his mark on those around him.” “His harsh words and critical attitude weighed heavily on me. If our relationship was marked by difficulties, some of these moments forged me and helped me find my way”she added.
”
data-script=”https://static.lefigaro.fr/widget-video/short-ttl/video/index.js”
>
Morocco
